Dig into Plants: Rosemary

Rosemary

Scientific Name: Rosmarinus officinalis 

Native to Alabama: No, non-invasive

 
Monarch Butterfly
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H. Zell
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Learn more about...
 
Basic Information
Classification Button
Maintenance
Adaptations Button
Plant ID
Life Cycle
 


 
Basic Plant Information
 
  • I am a vascular plant with no woody stems above ground, so I am herbaceous.
  • I keep leaves year-round, so I am evergreen.
  • I die back in winter but regrow in spring for many seasons, so I am perennial.
  • I can up to 6 feet high and 2 - 4 feet wide.
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Twam
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Ecological Benefits
 
This plant provides food for:
 
 
 
  Butterflies Native Bees  
       
 
 

   
Maintenance Notes
  • Not dormant in winter.
  • Flowers can be cut for an indoor vase.
  • Prune to maintain desired shape and in the Spring after flowering.
  • In the winter, leaves are green.
  • When watering, hold hose to base of plant for a count of 5 seconds.  Water should reach all roots.
  • Avoid sprinkling water on the leaves.
  • Requires average amount of water.
Average watering: water two times per week during the summer and once per week during the rest of the year.
 

 


  
Habitat Requirements
 
This plant prefers:
Full Sun
(6+ hours of sun per day)
 
   
Average Watering
 Well-drained
or Acidic Soil
 
 

 


   
  
Leaf, Flower & Seed Identification
 
LEAF DESCRIPTION
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David J. Stang
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Leaf Characteristics Chart (PDF)
       
Shape:
Linear		 Margin:
Entire/Smooth		 Arrangement:
Opposite		 Form:
Simple
   
Description:
Gray-green, linear, needle-like leaves closely spaced about 1.5 inches long; fragrant when bruised  and strong flavor

   
 
 
FLOWER DESCRIPTION
Wikimedia
Antonio from Mijas, España
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Flower Shape Chart (JPG)
     
Color:
Purple, light blue
Shape: 
Labiate   
Bloom Months:
vary based on variety and range within state; some bloom
Spring through Summer;
others in Fall and Winter.

 
   
Description:
 Tiny, two-lipped flowers bloom in axillary (from the upper side of the stem and an outgrowing leaf or branch) clusters 
 
 
SEED DESCRIPTION
Wikimedia
Leo Michaels
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Type:
Fruit - Nut		 Description:
Brown/copper color;
fruits are nutlets		 Months in Seed:
Spring to Summer
     
Plant spreads by:
Seeds
Rosemary can spread by seed but it is a slow process, propagation by cuttings is much faster


 
 
Plant Life Cycle

Plant Life Cycle:
  • All plants start life as a seed.
  • The seed turns into a sprout when it grows roots.
  • The sprout becomes a seedling as grows a stem and leaves above the ground.
  • After the seedling becomes an adult plant it will grow flowers.
  • After the flowers finish blooming, each flower turns into a seed.
  • When the seeds fall down to the ground, the plant life cycle starts again.
  • Each seed can become a plant if it has the food, water and space that it needs to grow.
General Plant Life Cycle - Dreamstime
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS
 
Quick Fact Sheet
(Condensed Species Info)		 Plant ID Sign:
Ready as-is PDF		 Plant ID Sign:
Editable Word Doc		 QR Code
(Links to this Webpage)




  


INFORMATION SOURCES FOR THIS PLANT
 
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Logo
  
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Logo
Alabama Plant Atlas Logo
  
Alabama Butterfly Atlas Logo
 
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